Sheet-feeding machine



J. G. HARDIE.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1919.

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SHEET FEEDlNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 1AN.2/1. 1919.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES G. HARDIE, 0F CANTON, NEW YORK.

SHEET-FEEDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

Application filed January 21, 1919. Serial No. 272,225.

T 0 all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs G. HARDIE, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Canton, county of St. Lawrence, and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSheet-Feeding Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in a sheet-feedingmechanism for printing presses and the like, in which a single sheet isfed off a stack and carried forward to the cylinder, and relates inparticular to the suction feed type of feeding machines whereby the topsheet is lifted by suction and carried forward to be operated upon bymeans to advance it to the press cylinder.

My present invention relates to improved features of constructionparticularly as follows: Means to pick up the top sheet from a stackhaving an uneven surface, and to carry forward the sheet to meansadapted to advance the sheet.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will firstdescribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings andafterwards more particularly point out the novelty of each feature.

In the accompanying drawings similar figures refer to similar parts.

Figure 1 is the side elevation of what is termed the feeder side,showing the rear of a printing press and including the impressioncylinder, from which the power is un-- derstood to be received. A sideview of the elevator is shown with a stack of paper therein, also a sideview of the mechanism that carries the sheet from the feeder to theprinting pres Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of the means for pickingup the top sheet and moving it forward, the means for elevating thestack of paper, for keeping the' top of the stack at a uniformheight,and for creating suction to lift the sheet. Figure 3 is a front view ofthe mechanism consisting of suction tubes which en age with the stack ofsheets and the means for lifting said tubes and advancing them. Figure 4is a modified form of the suction tubes.

Deem'iptz'on in detail.

Figure 1 is the side registering mechanism, reference is here made to myPatent No.

1,144,937, issued June 29, 1915, in which is 7 fully illustrated anddescribed the mecha- .link 3 to the link 4 which is pivoted to thereciprocating frame 5. The frame consists of side pieces, one on eitherside of the feeder held together by the tie rods 6 and 7. 8 is the stackof sheets, 9 is the platform upon which the stack is piled. 10 are thecables which support the stack of paper and are wound upon the sheeves1-1, that are rigid upon the shaft 12. Shaft 12 is in geared connectionwith the rocking arm 13 through a pawl and ratchet, not shown. Therocking arm 13 is in operative connection wit-h the sliding frame 5, bya pin 14 that may be inserted in anyone of a series of holes in saidsliding frame. The front end of the sliding frame 5 is shaped to engagethe shaft 15 and during the first part of the movement the shaft iselevated Vertically and then carried forward horizontally in the slot 16of the member 17 which is rigid upon the main frame. 18 is a side pieceof the main frame, the front end of which rests upon the printing press,and the rear end is supported upon the leg 19. Loosely mounted in theshaft 15, Figure 3. are the vertical tubes 20 which rest upon the stackof sheets and are adapted to adjust themselves to the uneven top surfaceof a stack of paper. Each tube has a flanged.

necting the tube 20 with the main suction pipe 23, through which thesuction is created by the blower 24, which is operated by the electricmotor 25. 26 is a shut off valve in the pipe 23 and is operated by thestop pin 27 in the sliding frame 5. igure 4 is a front view of amodification of Figure 3, in which the vertical tubes 20 are flexible,and have a flanged foot 28. 29 are counter weights to prevent the shaft15 from oscillating as it is elevated. 30 is a shifting lever for theclutch, not shown, which makes the elevating mechanism operative orinoperative. 31 is the means for conveying the sheet to the cylinder. 32is an arm which oscillates the cam 33. 34 engages the cam Manner ofoperation.

The power is applied as shown in my Patent No. 1,1441,937 and istransmitted through the arm 2 and links 3 and 4:, to the reciprocatingframe 5 The frame is so shaped that in its forward movement it willraise the shaft 15 vertically and then move it forward horizontally, andas the frame recedes, the spring 38 will return the shaft 15 to itsoriginal position.- As the frame 5 reciprocates, the stop pin 27 willcontact the valve arm 26 and will close the valve, and as the framereturns the spring will open the valve. As the frame 5 moves forward itwill rock the lever 13 through engagement of pin 14 in the slot of 13.Rock-arm 13 is pivotedly mounted upon the first arbor of a train ofgears journaled in the gear case 40, and is operatively con-' nectedwith the train of gears by a pawl and ratchet not shown which will havethe effect to rotate the train as the frame 5 moves forward to wind thecables 10 on the sheeve 11 rigid upon the arbor 12, that is in operativeconnection with the train of gears. The

whole mechanism is so timed that the frame 5 will make a to and fromovement to each sheet printed. 8 is the stack of sheets piled upon theplatform 9 and beneath this platformare bars attached to the cables. 25is an electric motor mounted upon the frame work and is in beltedconnection with a blower 24 which creates a suction through the pipe 23.15 is a shaft loosely mounted in the member 17 which is rigidly attachedto the frame 18. In this shaft 15 are slidably mounted the verticaltubes 20 adaptedto rest upon the stack of sheets. The tubes 20 areconnected with pipe 23 by flexible tubes 22. 21 is a flanged headadapted to contact the shaft 15, so that when said shaft is elevated itwill admit of the tubes 20 hanging loosely and bring them to the samelevel. The suction created in the' pipe 23 will have the effect tooperate through the members 20 and 22 to lift the top sheet verticallyand then pull it forward over the power rotated roll 36, at which timethe member 27 will contact the valve arm 26 shut off the suction andrelease the sheet from the tubes 20. The cam 33 is so shaped and timedthat it will raise the drop roll 35 to admit the sheet to be broughtbetween the roll 35 and the roll 36. The roll 35 will then be loweredholding the sheet tightly causing it to be advanced. From its advancedposition the sheet will be carried forward to the cylinder guides andregistered by mechanism shown and described in my Patent No. 1,144,937.

Figure 4 is a modification of Figure 3 in that the vertical tubes 20 areshown of a flexible nature in order to bend and adapt themselves to thefoot pieces 28 which tipto meet the surface of an uneven stack ofsheets. If desired, the flexible foot pieces 28 could be fitted upon theplunger tubes 20 in Figure 3.

Figure 3, 29 is a counter Weight adapted.

to keep the shaft 15 from oscillating when it is carrying the sheetforward; various means could be used to accomplish this end so I do notconfine myself to this particular form.

The side frames 18 are fastened rigidly at their front ends to thepress, and the rear ends are held together by-the tie rod 41.

37 is a two way switch for reversing the electric motor 25.

If desired, the mechanism illustrated and described in my Patent No.1,112,791 could be incorporated in place of the rocking arm 13, in whichcase the worm and worm gear shown in my Patent 1,283,506 Would beincorporated and thus eliminate the pawl and ratchet.

There are various means and devices now in use for the purpose ofseparating the top sheet from the second sheet and at the same time tohold the second sheet while the top sheet is being conveyed forward, andas any one of these various devices are adaptable for the use in thismachine I have not shown means for that purpose.

It will be observed that a very important feature of this invention isto provide means to advance the top sheet from a stack that may be quiteuneven on the top surface, and while I have shown two forms of suctiontubes I do not confine myself even to those two forms but wish tobroadly cover suction tubes that are capable of adjusting themselves toan uneven surface. These could be attached to a main member in variousways and be of various designs but would embody the same idea hereindescribed.

It might be desirable to cause the shaft 15 to have only a Verticalmovement and combine with it a member that would reciprocate and takehold of the sheet, so I do not confine myself to the particular movementshown of the shaft 15.

I have shown and described a reciprocating frame as a means to elevatethe shaft 15, but various other devices now in use could be adapted toperform this same work, so I do not confine myself to the use of areciprocating frame, but wish to use whatever means :that arepracticable.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is, I

1. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a suction pipe andmeans to create a suction, power operated means to let on and stop thesuction, flexible suction conduits operatively attached to said suctionpipe with their loose end adapted to rest upon'a stack of sheets, a footattached to the loose end of said conduits, a stop mounted upon; each ofsaid conduits, a power reciprocated member adapted to engage said sto 2In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a main stationary suctionpipe, and means to create a suction, power operated means to let on andstop the suction, flexible suction conduits operatively attached to saidsuction pipe with their loose end adapted to rest upon a stack ofsheets, a foot attached to the loose end of said conduits, a stopmounted upon each of said-conduits. a power reciprocated member adaptedto engage said stop.

3.111 a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a suction pipe andmeans to create a suction, power operated means to let on and stop thesuction, a power reciprocated member in operative connection withsuitable suction conduits, a stop on said conduits in operativeconnection with said reciprocating member, the loose end of saidconduits adapted to rest upon a-stack of sheets, a flexible conduit inoperative connection with said stop and the main suction P 1 4. In asheet feeding machine, the combination of a main suction pipe and meansto create a suction, power operated means to let on and stop thesuction, flexible suction conduits operatively attached to said suctionpipe with their loose end. adapted to rest upon a stack of sheets, afoot attached to the loose end of said conduits, a stop mounted uponeach of said conduits, a power reciprocated member adapted to engagesaid stops.

5. In a sheet feeding machine, the combination of a main suction pipeand means to create a suction, means to let on and stop the suction,flexible suction conduits operatively attached to said suction pipe withtheir loose end adaptedto rest upon a stack of sheets, a foot attachedto the loose end of said conduits a stop mounted upon each of saidconduits, a reciprocating member adapted to engage said stops, a powerreciprocated frame adapted to raise said member vertically and then moveit horizontally.

JAMES G. HARDIE.

, Witnesses: I

. JOHN F. ELLINGER,-

L. A. MILLER.

